Socket wrench



narran sTnTes WALTER A. ABEGG, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SOCKET WRENCH.

iaiaaoer.

Specification of Letters latent. Patmtetll July llll, 1922.

Application led December 15, 1920. Serial No. 430,877.

T 0 all whom it may concern? Be it known that I, WALTER A. ABEGG, a

citizen of Switzerland, residing at Los An.J

geles, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Socket Wrenches, of which the following is aY specification:

This invention has to do with a wrench and more particularly with a socket wrench, and an object of the invention is to provide an improved, simple and practical device of this character.

In using socket wrenches it is; frequentlyl performing any special operation, such as` manipulating a catch or locking device, while at any time a socket can be solidly and rigidly set on a shank by manipulation of a single screw member. -A socket can be easily and quickly set on the shank by hand to be sufficiently solid for all ordinary use, When a socket is solidly set by operation of the positive locking means, it will not become dislodged under the most severe working' conditions.

A distinctive feature of the invention is the particularly simple, durable and effective structure which the 4invention provides for carrying out the above operations. The construction is not only simple, durable and effective, but is compact, simple and cheap of manufacture, and extremely simple and easy of operation. These features are of particular importance commercially. y

An importantfeature of the invention is the arrangement of parts which causes the socket to be effectively frictionally held on the shank when placed thereon without being positively set. The socket and shank are actually held together by combined frictional and wedging action. "As provided by the invention, the frictional and wedging actions are adjustable to hold the shank and socket together with the ydesired degree of firmness.

Another noteworthy feature of the invention is the construction which enables the shank and socket to be firmly and solidly locked together. Suitable manipulation of the screw, by which the above mentioned adjustments are made, causes the connection between the socket and shank to be both solid and positive. The mechanism employed in effecting this operation is extremely simple and cheap of manufacture and is equallyA simple and easy of operation.

The various objects and features ofthe invention will be 'best and more tfully understood from the following detailed description of a typical embodiment of the invention, throughout which referenceis had to the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a wrench embodying the present'. invention showing a socket in place on the shank; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the socket in section and showing parts of the shank broken away to show its construction; the device in this figure being in its positively set position; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the device set in position where the.

socket can be easily placed on or removed from the shank by hand; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view' taken as indicated by line 4 4 on Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the shank showing it in the position shown in Fig. 3.

Throughout the drawings numeral lOidesignates the shank of the wrench which may be of any suitable form or construction and which may be of any suitable length or size. In accordance with the present invention the end portion 11 of the shank 10, vwhich is the portion that carries the socket12, is non-circular in cross-sectional configuration. `In practice it has been found that the end p0rtion 11 of the shank may be advantageously manufactured and operated if square in cross-sectional configuration.4 It is desirable, although not necessary, that the edges 13 of the end portion 11 be slightly beveled off in the manner shown in the drawings. In the particular wrench shown in the drawings, the body portion 0f the shank is round in cross-sectional configuration and the end portion 11 is square in cross-sectional configuration, thus causing shoulders 14 to be formed where the two portions of the shank Join. formed with shoulders, such as the shoulder 14, for reasons made Obvious. by the following description.

I The socket 12, which is adapted to be mounted 0n the end portion 11 of the shank 10, is preferably formed of a solid 0r continuous block of steel and to have a recess or opening 16 at one end and a recess or opening 17 at the other end. The recess 16 is of the same configuration as the end pol'- tion 11 of the shank and is adapted to receive the end portion of the shank. In practice it is preferred that the recess 16 be sufficiently large to receive the end portion 11 more ,or less freely. Thel clearance with which the end portion 11 of the shank 10 fits the recess 16 is shown in the drawing where it is somewhat exaggerated for" purpose of illustration. The recesses `16 and 17 are independent of each other as far as -function or operation is concerned, although they join and form a continuous passage through the socket. The recess 17 is adapted to receive a nut, or the like, and is therefore usually made square or hexagonal in configuration and of such size as to fit standard sizes of bolts, nuts, etc. It will be understood, of course, how several or numerous sockets 12 may be formed to have a standard size recess 16 to receive a standard size shank 10, but, have different sized and shaped recesses 17 to receive or cooperate /with different sizes and shapes of nuts, bolts,

etc. f

In accordance with the present invention the end portion 11 of the shank is formed with an opening or hole 20 adapted to carry a pressure member or ball 21. The hole 20 is formed or arranged in the end portion 11 so that the compression spring 22, arranged in the hole back of the ball 21 will thrust the ball 20 outwardly in the hole and against the wall of the opening 16 in such manner as to wedge or press the end portion 11 of the shank into one of the corners of therecess 16. For instance, as shown in the drawings, the spring 22 presses or forces the ball 21 into one of the corners of the recess 16 and thereby causes the end portion 11 of the shank to be forced or wedged into the opposite corner of the recess. This causes two sides or faces of the end portion 11 to be in frictional engagement with the walls of the recess 16 and also causes a wedging action. The frictional engagement of the partsof .the end portion and the wedging action cause the shank and socket to be held together firmly and effectively. The end p0rtion 11 in being forced or wedged into one corner of the recess 16 prevents any looseness or play between the shank and socket such as might becaused by the looseness of fit between the end portion 1 1 and the recess V16. I n the practical construction of` the device it is preferred that the hole 20 be formed diametrically through the end portion 11 and diagonally relative to the square of the end portion 11.

ness of the frictional engagement between the end portion 11 and the Walls of therecess 16, and of the wedging action in holding the socket and Shanks together, will depend upon the pressure or force with which the ball V21 is forced or pressed outwardly by the spring 20. In accordance with the present invention this pressure or force may be varied or adjusted by varying or adjusting the set screw 30 which rscrew-threads into the hole 20 and forms aseat for the inner end of the spring 22. It will be obvious how varying or adjusting the positioning of the set screw 30 in the hole 20 will vary or adjust the amount that the spring 22 is compressed and will thereby vary the pressure or force with which the 'spring 22 presses the ball 21. In the arrangement provided by the present invention the hole 20 extends completely through the end portion 11 so that the set screw 30 can be easily and conveniently adjusted from or through the end of the hole 20 opposite4 to that in which the ball 21 is arranged. It will be understood, of course, that set screw 30 may be.

formed with a suitable opening or slot 31 to receive a tool lin order that the set screw` may be turned or adjusted. It will be noted from inspection of the drawings that the set screw 30 is completely within the hole 20, thus allowing the shank to be easily placed in and removed from the recess 16.

'In accordance with the present invention a block 33 is arranged in the hole 20 between theset screw 30 and the ball 21. When the spring 22 1s a helical spring as shown in the the shank and socket to be positively set orv locked together.- In-'the present disclosure of the invention. I have shown the block 33 as being independent of the ball 21 and valso the set-screw 30 because I prefer to use a standard ball bearing ball for the ball 21 and a standard set screw for the set screw 30. Under this circumstance lthe block 33 may be a piece of heavy wire, or the like.

rlIhis construction is obviously simple and extremely inexpensive.

In order that the set-screw 30 may/be adjusted and manipulated when the socket 12 is in place on the end portion ll1, an opening 36 is formed in the socket'12 to register only one opening 36 in the socket 12 as it is a very simple matter to arrange the` shank in the socket so that the hole 2O registers with the opening 36. v

In the operation of the device the set screw 30 is adjusted so that sockets 12 may be arranged on and removed from the end portion 11 of the shank by hand, yet to cause the sockets to be held on'the end portion 11 with such firmness that they will not become displaced 'with ordinary usage of the wrench. In other words, the set-screw 30 is adjusted so that sockets 12 may be interchanged by hand and be held yin place on the shank with l all ordinary necessary firmness. When it is desired ,to use the wrench under circumstances or in positions where it is absolutely essential that the socket should not become displaced from the shank, the set-screw 30 may be adjusted so that the ball 21 is positively forced into one corner of the recess 16, thus causing the end'portion 11 to be positively forced or wedged into the opposite corner of the recess 16. When the device is set in this manner it may be used as a solid wrench and without danger of the socket 12 being displaced from the end portion 11. From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the invention may be easily and inexpensively constructed, that it is extremely simple and eifective in operation,

-that it is compact and neat, etc.

cess, and means adapted to be set to adjustably yieldingly hold the shank in the recess or to positively hold the shank in the recess, said means comprising a pressure member, a spring adapted to press the pressure member when the shank is yieldingly held in therecess, a screw adapted to adjust the pressure of the spring, and a part arranged to positively connect the pressure member and screw when the shank is positively held in the recess. v

2. In combination a socket formed with a recess, a shank adapted to extend into the recess, and having an opening in the portion adapted to extend into the recess, a pressure member in the opening, a spring in the opening adapted to press the pressure member outwardly in the opening, a screw in the opening adapted to adjust the spring, and a part between the pressure member and the screw so that the screw can be adjusted to positively press vthe pressure member outwardly in the opening. j 3. In combination, a sofcket formed with a aol recess, a shank adapted to extend into the recess and having an opening in the portion adapted to extend into the recess, a pressure member in the( opening, means to prevent displacement of the pressure member from the opening, a spring inthe opening adapted to press the pressure member outwardly in cess, a shank having a terminal adapted to extend into the recess, said end and recess being like and non-circular in cross section and said end having an opening through it with an end terminating at a point diametrically opposite a corner of said shank terminal, a ball in the opening at said end,means to prevent displacement of the ball from the opening, a s ring in the opening adapted to press the ba l outwardly,\a set screw in the opening adapted to regulate the spring, andl aV block between the set screw and the ball so that the set screw can -be adjusted to positively move the ball outwardly in the opening, said socket having an opening adapted to register with the opening in the shank whenthe shank is in place in the recess so .that'the set screw can be adjusted.

5. In combination, a socket with a substantially polygonal recess, a shank with a similarly shaped terminal adapted to enter the recess, a transverse opening through the shank terminal terminating at one end at a corner of the shank terminal, a pressure.

member in and adapted to be projected from that end of said opening, a spring behind said member, an adjusting screw behind the spring, and a block between the screw and pressure member through the medium of which block the screw may, when moved towardthe pressure member positively press it outwardly.

` 6. In combination, a socket with a shank receiving recess of substantially regular polygonal form, a shank with a terminal of reo similar form adapted to enter the recess and havmg a transverse opening from corner to corner, a ball in one end of the opening and adapted to be projected therefrom, and means to press the ball outwardly into engagement with a corner of the recess.

7. In combination, a socket with a'shank receiving recess yof substantially regular v polygonal form, a shank with a terminal of similar form adapted to enter the recess and having a transverse opening from corner to corner, a ball 1n one end of the openlng and adapted to be projected therefrom, a spring behind the ball, a screw behind the spring,

and ablock between theV ball and screw L5 through the medium of which the ball may be positively forced outwardly by the screw.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of December, 1920.

WALTER Aimee.`

Witness VIRGINIA BERINGER. 

